Early voting
puts Breen
on top

After two days of voting, Breen has received 36 per cent of the votes with Mads Ostberg second on 25 per cent and Sebastien Loeb, who claimed his ninth FIA World Rally Championship crown this season, third with 16 per cent.

Breen, from Ireland, excelled in 2012 by fighting back from the death of this co-driver and best friend Gareth Roberts to win the Super 2000 world title in a dramatic three-way showdown in Spain earlier this month. It was his second major accolade in two seasons following his capture of the inaugural FIA WRC Academy crown in 2011.

Jari-Matti Latvala and Sebastien Ogier, who will front Volkswagen Motorsport’s bid for WRC glory in 2013, are joint fourth with six per cent of the votes.

To vote click here and remember to keep visiting WRC.com for more polls soon, including Heroes of 2012, Rising stars of 2012, Rallies of 2012, Cars of 2012, Moments of 2012.